Monday, February 14, 2011

Fertigation Weekly: Malabar Spinach steal the show.

I never thought Malabar spinach will grow here. The name suggests its Indian origin . In fact malabar spinach seeds arrived here as seeds gift, as Wendy from Rockville Maryland. celebrated her first blogiversary. I received it August last year. Some seeds had been tried in Putrajaya. Now is the turn for Malabar spinach....

Malabar Spinach

malabar spinach

malabar spinach

There was a Bangladesh guy walking down our street one day. He simply couldn't resist , he stopped and talked to me. We grew that in Bangladesh, very nice he said. Then a week later, the plants added more leaves as automatic irrigation system fed them three times a day. One plant, being the healthiest, and tallest, showed what does it take to spurt malabar spinach flower, which I had never seen in my entire life... They grow so healthy with fresh looking leaves, that in the end kakdah doesn't have the heart to cut for the kitchen.

Bangchik, I have started some malabar spinach from Wendy too. I didn't know that they are actually our 'chan choy' and will grow into a vine. I germinated all in one poly bag but after that I read that we have to sow it directly on the ground. Is it ok to transfer the seedlings to the ground?

I used to play with the seeds as you press them red juice sprouts out like blood.I had planted the red coloured vine type - very commonly famous in indian cruise. (Red Vine Spinach) You can use the stalk to plant them after cutting the leaves for cooking.

Your spinach looks very healthy. I did not know that this is called Malabar Spinach, just as Autumn Belle says, it is "chan choy", and I never knew that the can grow to a beutiful vine too! Great in soups and stir-fries. Used to plant these by using the stems, and are easy to grow. Looks like very soon you will have lots of spinach.

Bangchik, why not let them grow first like in your photos there, then Kak Dah can peruse them as and when needed for her kitchen, and they can grow back easily after that. Your fertigation really works well judging by the healthy plants you have in your garden!

Hi Bangchik, i haven't been here for awhile. I can see you're growing that spinach also, it is called alugbati here in our country, Basella rubra or B.alba. There is also a variety with purplish stems and veins, it looks more aesthetic than the green. They love it here too as vegetable, but i dont eat it. With that growth in your yard, you will certainly be able to supply lots of your neighbors. The stems can also be readily propagated.

Blogwalking journey just so refreshing today as i see the color of green malabar. Love this veges so so much. It taste great when you fried it with prawn and some oyster sauce. I had planted this once using cutting where i bought this vege from pasar cina. I used this soil named Peatgro as the media where i put them in a planter box and the result was great. Just wanna share this Peatgro info @ www.peatorganic.com